Improvement in extension tables



S. E. WALES.

`Extension Tables.

Patented Aprl1,1873.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL E. WALES, 0E oEEoRD, AssreNoE To HIMSELE AND JAMES n. WILLIAMS, 0E WARREN, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

IMPROVEMENT IN EXTENSION TABLES.

Specification formingr part of Letters Patent No. 137,516, dated April l, 1873; application filed March 2l, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL EDWIN WALES,

Vof Orford, in the county-of Grafton and in lowing is a full, clear, and exact descriptionA thereof, reference being had to the annexed drawing making a part of, this specication, in which` Figure l is a bottom view 4of my improved table extended. Fig. 2 is a* top view of the same contracted. Fig. 3 is a transverse section. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the catch.

The same letters of reference are used in all the figures in the designation of like parts.

The nature of my invention consists in constructing the major part of the top of an extension table of independent transverse rails supported upon an extensible frame-work underneath, and connected together by elastic bands to draw them closely together in the contracted state of the table and to hold them severally at equal distances apart when the table is extended.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation.

The framework of the table consists of two sections sliding on each other, one section being composed of a rectan gular frame with broad longitudinal bars A and A1 and supported upon four legs, the other of two narrow parallel bars, B and B1, which are fitted to slide in dovetailed grooves in the top of the bars A and A1, and are united together by a cross bar at their outer ends, where they are supported by two legs. Boards AZand B2, secured upon the respectivey sections of the supportin g frame-work at their outer ends, form the xed end parts of the top, each carrying a leaf, A3 and B3, respectively, which, when turned up, are supported by the ily-rails C. The top, between the fixed end boards, is composed of a series of transverse rails, D, enough of them being employed to completely ll the space between the end boards when the table is in its contracted state. These rails are provided with transverse dovetailed grooves d and d upon their under sides, hooking with one edge over the dovetailed outer edges of the bars A and A1, and with the other edge over the dovetailed inner edges of the bars B and B1, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, offsets being cut in the top of the bars A and A1, so that the rails' can reach full thickness to the inner edges of the bars B and B1. The rails are connected together at opposite ends by elastic bands E and exible but practically inelastic bands F, the latter being employed to limit the extension of the top. These bands are nailed to the several rails separately, as shown. A hook, G, may be used to lock the two sections of the frame-work of the table together when it has been contracted. Locking devices, composed of a bolt, H, inserted in an aperture in the bar A, and actuated by a spring, h' ,to engage with notches b, eut in the bar B, are employed to hold the table in an extended state. The head 11. of the bolt bears against an inclined or cam-shapedv plate, I, so that by turning the head the bolt can be retracted out of engagement with the notches.

VVhatI claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An extension table, the top of which is composed of two fixed end boards and an intermediate extensible series of flexibly-connected transverse rails, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the twopart framework end boards A2 and B2, rails D, elastic bands E, and flexible but inelastic bands F, substantially as specified.

3. The bolt H h, spring h, inclined plate I, in combination with bar A and bar B having notches b, substantially as described.

SAMUEL EDWIN WALES.

Witnesses:

E. W. WILLARD, D. E. WILLARD. 

